The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies 14-3 on Wednesday in Denver. AP Pictures
DENVER — Rodolfo Castro hit a 458-foot home run and drove in four runs, leading Pittsburgh to beat the Colorado Rockies 14-3 Wednesday to complete the Pirates’ first three-game sweep in Denver since 2019.
Colorado has lost eight straight games, its longest skid since nine consecutive games from Aug. 27-September 4. Unrestricted ticket sales since 18,341 on April 18, 2013.
Pittsburgh won Games 1 and 3 of the series by an identical score and outscored Colorado 33-9 this week, the most runs by the Buccaneers in a three-game series since July 28-30, 2000, against San Diego.
“I am so excited now, not because of myself, but the whole group,” Castro said. “All the work we’ve done together since spring training, it shows now, and we’re winning a few games. That’s always exciting.”
Andrew McCutcheon put the Pirates ahead in the first inning with an RBI double on Austin Gomper (0-4) and hit a 442-foot to center field in the second as Pittsburgh took a 9-0 lead. The 2013 NL MVP, back with the Pirates for the first time in six years, hit . 310 with four homers and 9 RBI in 17 games.
Pittsburgh has won eight of its past 10 games on the road and swept two series on the road, equaling the 2024 season’s total. The Pirates tied a season-high 14 innings and struck out 18, one of their most.
“It’s just a matter of hitting at the right time,” McCutcheon said. “Things happen that way in this game. For me, I’ve been around enough. I’m not going to top it. It’s one of those things where it’s been a good series. We took care of the business. We won the games we were supposed to win.”
Johan Oviedo (2-1) lost one run and three batters in six innings with six hits and three walks. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs earned over 19 2/3 runs in his past three starts.
Jumper gave up nine runs, matching his career high, nine hits and three walks in two innings. His ERA record is 12.12 and he tied Josiah Gray of Washington and Logan Webb of San Francisco for the major league lead in losses.
Connor Joe, who played the previous two seasons at Colorado, and Jason DeLay each had three hits for the Buccaneers. Delay’s bases load and single lined up on a first drive in two runs to gain a 5–0 lead.
“It’s a fun atmosphere,” Joe said. “It’s been all year. We keep it up. They’ve been dancing. We celebrate everything. The little things. Homers. It feels good at the club. We’re happy and we look forward to continuing that run.”
Ryan McMahon has three of Colorado’s five hits.
early exit
LF Bryan Reynolds was ejected in the fifth inning after arguing with umpire Adam Beck over the inning-ending third strike. Reynolds was replaced in left field by Jack Swinski, who switched from center.
Coach room
Pirates: 1B Ji Man Choi is expected to miss the next eight weeks due to a left Achilles tendon strain. … LHP Rob Zastryzny will be sidelined from seven to 10 weeks with left ulnar neuritis. … LHP Jarlin Garcia still cannot catch or throw the ball as he deals with a nerve injury in his left upper arm. … RHP Chase De Jong will have batting practice this week. He’s at 15 days IL with a lumbar spine muscle strain.
Rockies: IL’s RHP Daniel Bard activated for 15 days and threw nine layups in a perfect eighth inning. He has been sidelined since spring training due to anxiety.
the next
Pirates: RHP Luke Weaver faces Cincinnati today in his first season.
Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (0-2) starts against Philadelphia today, coming in with an 8.78 ERA.